I am a woman with two university degrees and many certifications from internationally recognized organizations. My coaching career has always been focused on empowerment and creating the life you desire.
And what does society choose to see when I post a video celebrating no longer hiding myself and my body? A fat woman who does not love herself or care about her body.
While there were many messages of gratitude and encouragement, there was also judgment and criticism. I believe I either scared or annoyed them when I made jokes instead of shrinking and hiding.
Was I upset or surprised by any of it? Not in the slightest. I was only surprised that it reached over 22K views — not by how superficial people can be, not by their prejudice. I was, however, surprised by the lack of awareness regarding bodies.
I was surprised by how prevalent ableism still is, even with so many differently-abled individuals sharing their stories on social media. It is as if health is one box that fits all.
While most doctors agree on an optimal standard of health, this standard is not something easily achieved — if ever — by individuals with chronic conditions and different abilities.
I believe many people like myself were born with very sensitive bodies. Perhaps some bodies act like canaries in a coal mine, letting the miners know the environment isn’t safe? They are highly conscious organisms telling us: “This life in plastic isn’t so fantastic.”
What if, rather than fat-shaming, fatphobia, and prejudice, we asked: what are these bodies trying to tell us about where we’re heading as a species?
What if social media algorithms are intentionally hiding these canaries, so people continue believing the mine is safe? After all, it’s more profitable to keep them in the plastic realm — where there’s an injection or procedure for every insecurity. And all for what? What are we making matter that doesn’t?
If we stopped looking at our bodies as though something was wrong with them, what would we know?
The moment you adopt the viewpoint that something is right or wrong with you or your body, you shut off your ability to receive and to know.
You can either treat your body as the gift it is — with curiosity and play — or treat it as a machine in constant need of maintenance and repairs.
If you and your body didn’t have to fit into any box, what would you choose? What is actually fun for you? Would you be willing to start choosing more of that?
More of YOU. More of the joy of embodiment.